Foot and ankle brace.



Patented July 2, 1912.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Allorney -Zkdf FRED ANDERSON, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

'FOO'I AND ANKLE BRACE.

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, FRED R. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot and Ankle Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in foot and ankle braces.

The invention has for its object the production of a brace of this character which can be readily and easily applied to, or removed from the foot of the wearer, which is capable of supporting the arch of the instep, and which at the same time performs the function of an artificial ligament the strain of which is taken up by the ankle instead of the foot.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved brace in use. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the brace removed from the foot.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a band of flexible material, preferably leather, which is designed to be passed under the arch of the foot 11, and over the instep, one end of said band being provided with eyelets 12. A suitable flap 15 is secured to the outer face of the strap or band 10, said flap being also provided with eyelets 12, the band being secured in position on the foot by means of a lacing 13 engaging said eyelets. One end of the band 10 is connected in any suitable manner, such as stitching, to the ankle brace 14L, which comprises an elastic strap 16, and a fastening strap 17, the latter being preferably formed of leather. The elastic strap 16 may be formed of suitable elastic webbing. One end of the fastening strap 17 is permanently connected to the elasticstrap 16, and the other end is detachably connected to said flexible strap in any suitable man ner. In the drawing I have illustrated the detachable connection as comprising an Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 3, 1911.

Serial No. 658,372.

elastic stud 18 secured to the flexible strap or webbing 16 and a plurality of complemental sockets 19 carried by the strap 17.

In practice, the lacing 13 is loosened when it is desired to apply the brace, and the foot is passed through the band 10, after which the lacing 13 is tightened, whereby the strap 19 is secured in position. The strap 16 is then passed around the axle and the fastening strap engaged with the fastening stud 18 so as to secure the desired tension. Thus it will be seen that the band 10 not only serves as a support for the arch of the foot but also acts as a brace for the instep. The elastic strap 16 extends around the ankle with any desired degree of tension, and acts, in effect, as an artificial ligament the strain of which is taken up by the ankle instead of the foot. It will also be noted that by reason of the band 10 and strap 16 being formed practically as one continuous member, the strain of strap 16 is taken up by the outside of the ankle instead of the internal ligaments of the ankle or foot.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention, and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what I claim 1s:

1. As an improvement in foot and ankle braces, a continuous flexible band comprising an arch-supporting member constructed to encircle the foot forward of the ankle, an elastic strap constructed to encircle the ankle, one end of said strap being secured to a complement-a1 end of said archsupporting member and forming a longitudinal continuation thereof, means for adjustably securing the free end of said elastic strap to retain the same in position around the ankle, and independent means for se curing the free end of said arch-supporting member to retain the same in position on the foot.

2. An improvement in foot and ankle braces comprising an arch-supporting band constructed to encircle the foot forward of Patented July 2, 1912.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

FRED R. ANDERSON. WVitnesses JOHN E. DOUTEY, Jr., JAMES B. LITTLEFIELD.

copies of this patent may be lbtained for five cents each, by adore Washington, D. 0;

ssing the Commissioner of Patents, 

